Durban to Seattle shipping route.

The shipping route from Durban, South Africa to Seattle, United States covers 11,485 nautical miles port to port, via Panama Canal. On a globe the two ports sit 17,004 km apart, so the ship sails 1.25 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Cape of Good Hope and Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 34.2 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 39.9 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 26.6. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Durban and Seattle to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 11,771 nautical miles, 286 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Cape of Good Hope is congested or closed.

1,267 nm of the route, 11% of it, lies inside North American ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.

Container freight rates on Durban to Seattle move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Seattle (USSEA) carriers give about 3.94 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 65 port to port routes from Durban in this directory, Seattle is the 64th shortest. Closer destinations include Oakland (10,657 nm), Los Angeles (10,272 nm) and Manzanillo (8,987 nm).